Emblems Ancient and Modern, Emblem 34 – Emblem 49
Whil'ſt thou doſt, here, injoy thy breath,
Continue mindfull of thy Death.
MEMENTO MORI.
ILLVSTR. XXXIV. Book. 3
WHen thou beholdeſt on this Burying-ſtone,
The melancholly Night-bird, ſitting on
The fleſhleſſe ruines of a rotten-Skull,
(Whoſe Face, perhaps, hath been more beautifull,
Then thine is now) take up a ſerious thought;
And, doe as thou art by the Motto taught.
Remember Death: and minde, I thee beſeech,
How ſoone, theſe Fowles may at thy window ſcreech;
Or, call thee (as the common people deeme)
To dwell in Graves, and Sepulchers, by them,
Where nothing elſe, but Bats, and Owles, appeare;
Or, Goblins, form'd by Fancies, and, by Feare.
If thou ſhalt be advis'd, to meditate
Thy lat…er end, before it be too late,
(And, whil'ſt thy friends, thy ſtrength, and wits may bee
In likely caſe, to h…lp and comfort thee)
There may be courſes taken, to divert
Thoſ… Frights, which, elſe, would terrifie thy heart,
When Dea…h drawes neare; and helpe thee plucke away
That S…ng, of his, which would thy Soule diſ…ay.
But, i… thou madly ramble onward, ſtill,
Til t…ou art ſinking downe that darkeſome hill,
Which borders on the Grave (and doſt b…ginne
To ſee, …he Shades of Terrour, and of Sinne
To fly …croſſe thy Conſcience) 'twill be hard
To … this Leſſon; or, to be prepar'd
For th… ſad parting, which, will forced bee,
Be… e…hi… much beloved World, and thee.
Conſider this, therefo…e, while Time thou haſt,
An…, put not off this Bus'neſſe, till the laſt.
Doe not the golden Meane, exceed,
In Word, in Paſsion, nor in Deed.
SERVA MODVM.
ILLVSTR. XXXV. Book. 3
AS is the head-ſtrong Horſe, and blockiſh Mule,
Ev'n ſuch, without the Bridle, and the Rule,
Our Nature growes; and, is as miſchievous,
Till Grace, and Reaſon, come to governe us.
The Square, and Bridle, therefore let us heed,
And, thereby learne to know, what helpes wee need;
Leſt, elſe, (they fayling, timely, to bee had)
Quite out of Order, wee, at length, bee made.
The Square, (which is an uſefull Instrument,
To ſhape foorth ſenſeleſſe Formes) may repreſent
The Law: Becauſe, Mankind, (which is by Nature,
Almoſt as dull, as is the ſenſeleſſe-creature,)
Is thereby, from the native-rudeneſſe, wrought;
And in the Way of honeſt-living taught.
The Bridle, (which Invention did contrive,
To …ule, and guide the Creature-ſenſitive)
May type fo…h Diſcipline; which, when the Law,
Hath ſchool'd the Wit, muſt keepe the Will in awe.
And, hee that can by theſe, his Paſsions bound,
This Emblems meaning, uſefully, hath found.
Lord, let thy ſacred Law, at all times, bee
A Rule, a Master, and a Glaſſe to mee;
(A Bridle, and a Light) that I may, ſtill,
Both know my Dutie, and obey thy Will.
Direct my Feet; my Hands, inſtruct thou ſo,
That I may neither wander, nor miſ…doe.
My Lookes, my Hearing, and my Wordes confine,
To keepe ſtill firme, to ev'ry Word of thine.
On thee, let alſo my Deſires attend:
And, let me hold this temper, till mine end.
Wee then have got the ſurest prop,
When God, alone, becomes our Hope.
FVLCRVM TVTIS SIMVM
ILLVSTR. XXXVI. Book. 3
I Should not care how hard my Fortunes were,
Might ſtill my Hopes be ſuch, as now they are,
Of helpes divine; nor feare, how poore I bee,
If thoughts, yet, preſent, ſtill may bide in mee.
For, they have left aſſurance of ſuch ayd,
That, I am of no dangers, now afraid.
Yea, now I ſee, mee thinkes, what weake and vaine
Supporters I have ſought, to helpe ſuſtaine
My fainting heart; when ſome injurious hand,
Would undermine the Station where I ſtand.
Me thinks, I ſee how ſcurvie, and how baſe,
It is to ſcrape for favours, and for grace,
To men of earthly minds; and unto thoſe,
Who may, perhaps, before to morrow loſe
Their Wealth, (or their abus'd Authoritie)
And, ſtand as much in want of helpe as I.
Me thinks, in this new-rapture, I doe ſee
The hand of God from heaven ſupporting me,
Without thoſe rotten-Ayds, for which I whinde,
When I was of my tother vulgar-minde:
And, if in ſome one part of me it lay,
I, now, could cut that Limbe of mine away.
Still, might I keepe this mind, there were enough
Within my ſelfe, (beſide that cumbring ſtuffe
Wee ſeeke without) which, husbanded aright,
Would make mee Rich, in all the Worlds deſpight.
And, I have hopes, that, had ſhee quite bereft mee,
Of thoſe few ragges and toyes, which, yet, are left me;
I ſhould on God, alone, ſo much depend,
That, I ſhould need, nor Wealth, nor other Friend.
True Vertue, firme, will alwayes bide,
By whatſoever ſuffrings tride.
VIRTUS INEXPUGNABILIS.
ILLVSTR. XXXVII. Book. 3
THis is a well-knowne Figure, ſignifying,
A man, whoſe Vertues will abide the trying:
For, by the nature of the Diamond ſtone,
(Which, Violence, can no way worke upon)
That Patience, and long-ſuffering is intended,
Which will not bee with Injuries offended;
Nor yeeld to any baſe dejectedneſſe,
Although ſome bruiſing Pow'r, the ſame oppreſſe;
Or, ſuch hard ſtreights, as theirs, that hamm'rings feele,
Betwixt an Anvile, and a Sledge of Steele.
None ever had a perfect Vertue, yet,
But, that moſt Pretious-ſtone, which God hath ſet
On his right hand, in beaming-Majestie,
VponUpon the Ring of bleſt ETERNITIE.
And, this, is that impenitrable Stone,
The Serpent could not leave impreſſion on,
(Nor ſigne of any Path-way) by temptations,
Or, by the pow'r of fly inſinuations:
Which wond…ous Mysterie was of thoſe five,
Whoſe depth King Solomon could never dive.
Good God! vouchſafe, ev'n for that Diamond-ſake,
That, I may of his pretiouſneſſe, partake,
In, all my Trialls▪ make mee alwayes able
To bide them, with a minde impenitrable,
How hard, or oft ſo'ere, thoſe hamm'rings bee,
Wherewith Afflictions muſt new faſhion mee.
And, as the common Diamonds poliſh'd are,
By their owne duſt; ſo, let my errours weare
Each other ou…; And, when that I am pure,
Give mee the Luſtre, Lord, that will endure.
Truth, oft oppreſſed, wee may ſee,
But, quite ſuppreſt it cannot bee.
VERITAS PREMITUR NON OPPRIMITUR.
ILLVSTR. XXXVIII. Book. 3
THis is that fruitfull Plant, which when it growes,
Where wholeſome Water in abundance flowes,
Was, by the Pſalmist, thought a likely Tree,
The Emblem, of a bleſſed-man, to bee:
For, many wayes, it fitly typifies,
The Righteous-man, with his proprieties;
And, thoſe true Vertues, which doe helpe increaſe
His growing, in the ſtate of Bleſſedneſſe.
The Palme, (in this our Emblem, figur'd, thus)
D…preſſed with a Stone, doth ſhew to us
The pow'r of Truth: For, as this Tree doth ſpread,
And thrive the more, when weights preſſe downe the head;
So, Gods eternall Truth (which all the pow'r
And ſpight of Hell, did labour to devoure)
Sprung high, and flouriſhed the more, thereby,
When Tyrants cruſh'd it, with their crueltie.
And, all inferiour Truths, the ſame will doe,
According as they make approaches to
The beſt Perfection; or, as they conduce
To God's due praiſe, or ſome ſuch pious uſe.
Lord, ſtill, preſerve this Truth's-integritie,
Although on ev'ry ſide, the wicked prie,
To ſpie how they may diſadvantage it.
Yea, Lord, though Sinners in high place doe ſit,
(As David ſaith) yet, let them not oppreſſe
Thy Veritie, by their imperiouſneſſe.
But, make both Her, and her Profeſſors, bide
The Test, like Silver ſeven times purifide.
That, all Truths lovers, may with comfort ſee,
Shee may depre…t, but, not, oppreſſed bee.
They, who but ſlowly-paced are,
By plodding on, way travaile farre.
PAS A PAS.
ILLVSTR. XXXIX. Book. 3
THe big-bon'd Oxe, in pace is very ſlow,
And, in his travaile, ſtep by ſtep, doth goe,
So leiſurely, as if he tir'd had bin,
Before his painfull Iourney did beginne;
Yet, all the day, he ſtifly ploddeth on,
Vntill the labour of the day be done:
And, ſeemes as freſh (though he his taske hath wrought)
As when to worke, he firſt of all was brought.
Meane-while, the Palfray, which more ſwiftneſſe had,
Hath loſt his breath, or proves a Reſty-jade.
This Emblem, therefore, maketh it appeare,
How much it profiteth, to perſevere;
And, what a little Induſtry will doe,
If wee continue conſtant thereunto.
For, meaneſt Faculties, diſcreetly us'd,
May get the ſtart, of nobler Gifts, abus'd.
This, may obſerued be in many a one:
For (when their courſe of life was firſt begunne)
Some, whoſe refined wits, aſpi'rd as high,
As if above the Sphaeres, they were to flie:
By Sloth, or Pride, or over-truſting to
Their owne Sufficiencies, themſelves undoe.
Yea and thoſe forward-wits, have liv'd to ſee
Themſelves inferiours, unto thoſe, to be,
Whom, they did in their jollity, contemne,
As blocks, or dunces, in reſpect of them.
Then, learne, Great-wits, this folly to prevent:
Let Meane-wits, take from hence, incouragement:
And, let us all, in our Affaires proceed,
With timely leiſure, and with comely ſpeed.
Vncertaine, Fortunes Favours, bee,
And, as the Moone, ſo changeth Shee.
FORTUNA UT LUNA.
ILLVSTR. XL. Book. 3
OVr Author, peradventure, giveth us
Dame Fortune (for theſe Reaſons) pictur'd, thus:
She hath a Comely-body, to declare,
How pleaſing ſhee doth uſually appeare
To them, that love her Favours. She is blinde,
(Or, hath ſtill cloſed eyes) to put in minde,
How blindly, and how heedleſly, ſhe throwes
Her Largeſſe, where her Bounty, ſhe beſtowes.
She ſtands upon a Ball; that, wee may learne,
Of outward things, the tottering, to diſcerne:
Her Ball hath wings; that it may ſignifie
How apt her Favours are, away to flie.
A Skarfe diſplayed by the wind, ſhe beares,
(And, on her naked-Body, nothing weares)
To ſhew, that what her Favorite injoyes,
Is not ſo much for Vſefulneſſe, as toyes.
Her Head is haireleſſe, all, except before;
To teach thee, that thy care ſhould be the more
To hold her formoſt kindneſſe, alwayes faſt;
Leſt, ſhe doe ſhow thee ſlipp'ry tricks, at laſt.
And, laſtly, that her changing may be ſhowne;
She beareth in her Hand a Waynedmoone.
By this Deſcription, you may now deſcry
Her true conditions, full as well as I:
And, if you, ſtill, ſuppoſe her, worth ſuch honour,
You have my leave to wooe, and wayt upon her.
Moreover (to her credit) I confeſſe,
This Motto falſly ſaith, her Fickleneſſe
Is like the Moones: For, ſhe hath frown'd on mee
Twelve Moones, at leaſt; and, yet, no Cha…e I ſee
Ʋntill the Steele, the Flint ſhall ſmite,
It will afford nor Heat, nor Light.
ANTE FERIT QUAM FLAMMA MICET.
ILLVSTR. XLI. Book. 3
WHilſt by the High-way-ſide, the Flint-ſtone lies,
Drie, cold, and hardneſſe, are the properties
We then perceive: But, when we prove it nigher,
We finde, that, Coldneſſe doth incloſe a Fire;
And, that, though Raine, nor cloudie-skie appeares,
It will be (many times) bedew'd with teares.
From hence, I mind, that many wronged are
By being judg'd, as they, at firſt, appeare;
And, that, ſome ſhould bee prais'd, whom wee deſpiſe,
If inward-Grace, were ſeene with outward-Eyes.
But, this is not that Morall (wee confeſſe)
Which this our Emblem, ſeemeth to expreſſe:
For (if the Motto ſpeake the meaning right)
It ſhewes, that, hard-afflictions firſt muſt ſmi…e
Our hardned hearts, before it will bee ſeene,
That any light of Grace, in them, hath beene.
Before the Flint will ſend forth ſhining Rayes,
It must bee ſtrucken, by the Steele, (it ſayes.)
Another Morall, adde we may to this,
(Which, to the Figure, ſutes not much amiſſe.)
The Steele, and Flint, may fitly repreſent
Hard-hearted men, whoſe mindes will not relent:
For, when in oppoſition, ſuch become,
The fire of Malice, flames and ſparkles from
Their threatning Eyes; which elſe, cloſe hidden reſts,
Within the cloſets of their flintie breſts:
And, flame out-right it will not, (though it ſmokes)
Till Strife breake paſſage, for it, by her ſtrokes.
If any of theſe Moralls may doe good,
The purpoſe of my paines is underſtood.
My Wit got Wings and, high had flowne.
But, Povertie did keepe mee downe.
PAVPERTATE PREMOR SUBLEUOR INGENIO.
ILLVSTR. XLII. Book. 3
YOu little thinke, what plague it is to bee,
In plight like him, whom pictur'd here you ſee.
His winged-Arme, and his up lifted-eyes,
Declare, that hee hath Wit, and Will, to riſe:
The Stone, which cl…gs his other hand, may ſhow
That, Povertie and Fortune, keepe him low:
And, twixt theſe two, the Bodie and the Mind,
Such labours, and ſuch great vexations finde,
That, if you did not ſuch mens wants contemne,
You could not chuſe but helpe, or pitie them.
All Ages had (and, this I know hath ſome)
Such men, as to this miſery, doe come:
And, many of them, at their Lot, ſo grieve,
As if they knew, (or did at leaſt beleeve)
That, had their Wealth ſuffiz'd them to aſpire
(To what their Witts deſerve, and they deſire)
The pr…ſent Age. and future Ages too,
Might gaine have had, from what they thought to doe.
Perhaps I dream'd ſo once: But, God be prais'd,
The Clog which kept me downe, from being rais'd,
Was chain'd ſo faſt, that (if ſuch Dreames I had)
My thoughts, and longings, are not now ſo mad.
For, plaine I ſee, that, had my Fortunes brought
Such Wealth, at firſt, as my ſmall Wit hath ſought;
I might my ſelfe, and others, have un…one,
Inſtead of Courſes, which I thought to runne.
I finde my Povertie, for mee was fit;
Yea, and a Bleſsing, greater than my Wit:
And, whether, now, I rich or poore become,
Tis nor much pleaſing, nor much troubleſome.
A Miſchiefe, hardly can be done,
Where many-pow'rs are knit in one.
VIRTUS UNITA FORTIOR.
ILLVSTR. XLIII. Book. 3
OBſerve the Sheafe of Arrowes, figur'd here;
And, how the pow'r, and fury, of the Beare
(Though hee attempt it) no device can finde
To breake one ſlender-ſhaft, while they are joyn'd:
Whereas, were they divided, ſtrength but ſmall,
Like rotten Kexes, would ſoone breake them all.
This Emblem, therefore, fitly doth imply
That Safeguard, which is found in Vnity;
And, ſhewes, that, when Diſ-union is begunne,
It breedeth dangers, where before were none.
The Pſalmiſt, numerous Off-ſprings, doth compare
To Quivers, that with Shafts repleniſh'd are.
When Vnity hath knit them in her hands,
They prove like Arrowes in a Gyants hands.
And, though, for theſe, their Foes in wayt have layd,
They ſhall not be ſupriz'd, nor made afrayd.
Conſider this, yee Children of one Sire,
'Twixt whom, is kind ad ſome contentious fire,
And, reconciled be, left …, at length,
Conſume away the marrow of your ſtrength;
Or, by dividing, of your joyned-pow'r,
Make way for thoſe, who ſtudie to devoure.
Yea, let us all conſider, as we ought,
What Leſſon, by this Emblem, we are taught.
For, wee are Brethren all; and (by a Bloud
More precious, then our nat'rall Brother-hood)
Not knit, alone, but mingled, as it were,
Into a League; which is, by much, more deare,
And, much more dangerous, to be undone,
Then all the Bands, that can he thought upon.
They, beſt injoy their Hearts deſires,
In whom, Love, kindles mutuall-fires.
AMORE MUTUO.
ILLVSTR. XLIV. Book. 3
WHat may the reaſon be, that, when Deſire
Hath kindled in the breſt, a Loving-fire,
The Flame, which burn'd awhile, both cleere & ſtrong,
Becomes to be extinguiſhed, ere long?
This Emblem gives the reaſon; for, it ſhowes,
That, when Affection, to perfection growes,
The Fire, which doth inlighten, firſt, the ſame,
Is made an equall, and a mutuall-flame.
Theſe burning Torches, are alike in length;
To ſhew, Love equall, both in time, and ſtrength.
They, to each otherward, their Flames extend,
To teach us, that, True-lovers have no end
Pertayning to Selfe-love; and, lo, betweene
Theſe Two, one Flaming heart, is to be ſeene;
To ſignifie, that, they, but one, remaine
In Minde; though, in their Perſons, they are twaine.
He, doubtleſſe, then, who Lov'd, and, giveth over,
Deſerveth not the Title of a Lover at
Or, elſe, was unrequited in Affection,
And, was a Lover, with ſome imperfection.
For, Love, that loves, and is not lov'd as much,
May perfect grow; but, yet, it is not ſuch,
Nor can be, till it may that object have,
Which gives a Heart, for what it would receive:
And, lookes not ſo much outward, as to heed
What ſeemes within, to want, or to exceed.
Whether our Emblem's Author, thought of this,
You need not care; nor, will it be amiſſe,
If they who perfect Lovers, would be thought,
Doe mind, what by this Morall, they are taught.
Where many-Forces joyned are,
Vnconquerable-pow'r, is there
CONCORDIA INSUPERABILIS.
ILLVSTR. XLV. Book. 3
AN Emblem's meaning, here, I thought to conſter;
And, this doth rather faſhion out a Monſter,
Then forme an Hieroglyphicke: but, I had
Theſe Figures (as you ſee them) ready made
By others; and, I meane to morallize
Their Fancies; not to mend what they deviſe.
Yet, peradventure, with ſome vulgar praiſe,
This Picture (though I like it not) diſplayes
The Morall, which the Motto doth imply;
And, thus, it may be ſayd to ſignifie.
He, that hath many Faculties, or Friends,
To keepe him ſafe (or to acquire his ends)
And, fits them ſo; and, keepes them ſo together,
That, ſtill, as readily, they ayd each other,
As if ſo many Hands, they had been made;
And, in One-body, uſefull being had:
That man, by their Aſſiſtance, may, at length,
Attaine to an unconquerable ſtrength;
And, crowne his honeſt Hopes, with whatſoever
He ſeekes for, by a warranted Endeavour.
Or, elſe, it might be ſayd; that, when we may
Make our Affections, and, our Senſe, obay
The will of Reaſon, (and, ſo well agree,
That, we may finde them, ſtill, at peace to be)
They'l guard us, like ſo many Armed hands;
And, ſafely keepe us, whatſoere withſtands.
If others thinke this Figure, here, inferres
A better ſenſe; let thoſe Interpreters
Vnriddle it; and, preach it where they pleaſe:
Their Meanings may be good, and ſo are theſe.
The Hearts of Kings are in God's Hands;
And, as He liſts, He Them commands.
IN MANU DEI COR REGIS.
ILLVSTR. XLVI. Book. 3
WHy doe men grudge at thoſe, who rayſed be,
By royall Favour, from a low degree?
Know this▪ Hee ſhould be honour'd, whom the King,
To place of Dignity, ſhall pleaſe to bring.
Why ſhould they blame their Kings, for fav'ring ſuch,
Whom, they have thought, ſcarce meriting ſo much?
God rules their Hearts; and, they, themſelves deceive,
Who dreame, that Kings exalt, without Gods leave.
Why murmure they at God, for guiding ſo
The Hearts of Kings, as oft they ſee him doe?
Or, at his Workes, why ſhould they take offence,
As if their Wit, could teach his Providence?
His juſt, and his all-ſeeing Wiſedome knowes,
Both whom, and why he crownes, or overthrowes;
And, for what cauſe, the Hearts of Princes, bee
Inlarg'd, or ſhut; when we no cauſe can ſee;
We ſometime know, what's well, and what's amiſſe;
But, of thoſe Truths, the root concealed is;
And, Falſe-hoods, and Uncertainties, there are,
In moſt of thoſe things, which we ſpeake, or heare.
Then, were not Kings directed by God's hand,
They, who are beſt, and wiſeſt in the Land,
Might oft miſguide them, either by receiving
A Falſe report, or, by ſome wrong-believing.
God's Grace it is, that Good-men rays'd have bin:
If Sinners flouriſh, we may thanke our Sin.
Both Good and Bad, ſo like in out-ſides be,
That, Kings may be deceiv'd, in what they ſee;
And, if God had not rul'd their Hearts aright,
The World, by this time, had been ruin'd quite.
A Vertue hidden, or not us'd,
Is either Sloth, or Grace abus'd.
CELATA VIRTUS IGNAVIA EST.
ILLVSTR. XLVII. Book. 3
THe World hath ſhameleſſe Boaſters, who pretend,
In ſundry matters, to be skill'd ſo well,
That, were they pleaſed, ſo their houres to ſpend,
They ſay, they could in many things excell.
But, though they make their hearers to beleeve,
That, out of Modeſtie their Gifts they hide,
In them wee very plainely may perceive,
Or Sloth, or Envy, Ignorance, or Pride.
When other mens endeavours they peruſe,
They either carpe at what they cannot mend;
Or elſe of Arrogance doe thoſe accuſe,
Who, to the publike view, their Workes commend.
If theſe men ſay, that they can Poetize,
But, will not; they are falſe in ſaying ſo:
For, he whoſe Wit a little that way lies,
Will doing bee, though hee himſelfe undoe.
If they, in other Faculties are learned,
And, ſtill, forbeare their Talents to imploy;
The trueſt Knowledge, yet, is undiſcerned,
And, that, they merit not, which they injoy.
Yea, ſuch as hide the Gifts they have received,
(Or uſe them not, as well as they are able)
Are like fayre Eyes, of uſefull ſight bereaved;
Or, lighted-Candles, underneath a Table.
Their gloriouſt part, is but a Painted cloath,
Whoſe Figures, to the wall-ward, ſtill are hung▪
Their hidden Vertues, are apparant Sloth;
And, all their life, is to the publike wrong:
For, they doe re…pe the Fruits, by many ſowne,
And, leave to others, nothing of their owne.
The Moone, which is decreaſing now,
When ſhee returnes, will fuller, grow.
REDIBO PLENIOR.
ILLVSTR. XLVIII. Book. 3
I Never, yet, did murmuringly complaine,
Although thoſe Moones have long been in the Waine,
Which on their Silver Shields, my Elders wore,
In Battels, and in Triumphs, heretofore.
Nor any mention have I ever made,
Of ſuch Eclipſes, as thoſe Creſcents had;
Thereby, to move ſome Comet, to reflect
His fading-light, or daigne his good aſpect.
For, when I tell the World, how ill I fare,
I tell her too, how little I doe care,
For her deſpights: yea, and I tell it not,
That, helpe, or pitie, might from her be got;
But, rather, that her Favourites may ſee,
I know my Waynings, yet, can pleaſed bee.
My Light, is from the Planet of the Sunne;
And, though the Courſe, which I obliquely runne,
Oft brings my outward Fortunes to the Waine,
My Light ſhall, one day, bee renew'd againe.
Yea, though to ſome, I quite may ſeeme to loſe
My Light; becauſe, my follies interpoſe
Their ſhadowes to eclipſe it: yet, I know,
My Creſcents, will increaſe, and fuller, grow.
Aſſoone as in the Fleſh, I beeing had,
I mooved on in Courſes retrograde,
And, thereby loſt my Splendor: but, I feele
Soft motions, from that great Eternall Wheele,
Which mooveth all things, ſweetly mooving mee,
To gaine the Place, in which I ought to bee:
And, when to Him, I backe returne, from whom
At firſt I came, I ſhall at Full become.
Bee warie, whereſoo're, thou bee:
For, from deceit, no place is free.
NUSQUAM TUTA FIDES.
ILLVSTR. XLIX. Book. 3
SOme write (but, on what grounds, I cannot tell)
That they, who neere unto the Deſerts dwell,
Where Elephants are found, doe notice take,
What trees they haunt, their ſleeping-ſtocks to make;
That, when they reſt againſt an halfe-ſawne ſtemme,
It (falling) may betray thoſe Beaſts to them.
Now, though the part Historicall, may erre,
The Morall, which this Emblem doth inferre,
Is overtrue; and, ſeemeth to imply,
The World to bee ſo full of Treacherie,
As, that, no corner of it, found can be,
In which, from Falſhoods Engines, wee are free.
I have obſerv'd the Citie; and, I finde
The Citizens, are civill, grave and kinde;
Yet, many are deluded by their ſhowes,
And, cheated, when they truſt in them repoſe.
I have been oft at Court; where I have ſpent,
Some idle time, to heare them Complement:
But, I have ſeene in Courtiers, ſuch deceit,
That, for their Favours, I could never wait.
I doe frequent the Church; and, I have heard
Gods judgements, by the Preachers, there, declar'd,
Againſt mens falſhoods; and, I gladly heare
Their zealous Prayers, and good Counſells there;
But, as I live, I finde ſome ſuch as they,
Will watch to doe a miſchiefe, if they may.
Nay, thoſe poore ſneaking Clownes, who ſeeke their living,
As if they knew no manner of deceiving;
Ev'n thoſe, their witts, can (this way) ſo apply,
That, they'l ſoone couſen, wiſer men, than I.